Latching device for lockers



May 6, 1952 J. B. OCONNOR LATCHING DEVICE FOR LOCKERS Original Filed May51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l TTF-W May 6, 1952 J. B. o'coNNoR LATCHINGDEVICE FOR LOCKERS Original Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY waz@Mawr@ May 5, 1952 J. B. o'coNNoR 2,595,473

LATCHING DEVICE FOR LocxERs original Filed May 51, 194e 4 sheets-Sheet sy., 4. I JNVENTOR. f Lm E @haar BY ma, 1mm @6' May 6, 1952 JQB. o'coNNoR2,595,473

LATCHING DEVICE FOR LOCKERS Original Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4135 IN1/EN ToR.-

Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCHING DEVICE FORLOCKERS` John B..OConnor, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Lyon Metal Products,Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of VIllinois C laimsg. 1

This application is a division of application Serial No. 673,566, filedMay 31, 1946, and now Patent No. 2,568,592, dated September 18, 1951.

This invention relates to metal lockers.

Among the objects of the present inventionis to provide a new hingeddoor construction for the metal locker and also to provideV a new'typeof locking device for the door, which includes a substantially flushtype handle and associated locking means of simple construction,economicalin manufacture and efficient in operation.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a lockingdevice for a metallic locker which is of a construction to permit thedoor to be snap locked on closing and yet which lock can be released bya shifting movement ofthe handle construction and which constructionAalso includes a permanent locking feature solas to-pre clude theunlocking of the door when once-intentionally locked.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a door lockingmechanism for a locker or the like wherein there is provided within. thelocker, and preferably, although not necessarily, on the rear of thedoor, a shiftable latch carrier positioned and operable so that when thedoor is closed a latch on the shiftable carrieris positioned intocooperative relation with a camming or wiping portion of a keeper sothat the act of closing the door snap locks the-latchpast the keeperinto cooperation with a locking mechanism, and wherein in addition thereis positioned on the outside of the door a shiftabl'el handle having aconnection through an opening in the door to the latch carrier andoperable so thatfon manual operation of the handle the -latch mayfbeshifted to disengagement from the keepers@ that the door can be openedor, in combination witha manually operated lock, preferably on the door,will be operable so as to lock the latch carrying mechanism so that itcannot be shifted by the handle to release the` snap lock of thedoor.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the specific arrangementsof the openings in the door for the keeper, the latch carrier and thehandle so that their various cooperations are promoted and ensured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustment for the legsand also for the feet of the cabinet.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusalof the following'speciflcation when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an assembled locker;

Figure 2 shows a similar View with the door open;

Figure 3 shows the various parts of the sheet metal members making upthe locker;

Figure 4 is a side sectional view taken on the line 4-4'of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5. of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view, partly broken away, of the handle and lockingmechanism thereof;

Figure 7 isa sectional View taken on the line l-Iv ofFig-ure 6;

Figure-8 is a sectional view taken onthe line 8*-8ofFig-ure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the various parts of the-handle andlocking mechanism; and

Figure-10 is a section taken on the line lll-qll), ofV Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and

particularlyto Figure 1, it will be noted that the locker comprises afront frame member of preferably integral construction, which includesthe twovertical frame members 2 and 4 preferably formed of angle ironand having a preferably integral bottom cross angle 6 and a top cross'angle 8. The cross-bars 6 and8 are preferably united to the verticalbars 2 and 4 by welding. The two side angles 2 and4 extend downwardly toprovide the integrally formed feetA I0 and l2 at the front ofthe locker.Suitably attached to the front upstanding vertical frame members 2 and 4as at I4 andl I6, as by rivets or self-tapping screws, bolts or nuts,is-'a side panel 2B preferably formed of sheetmetal. The marginal flangeportion |8- of this panel20 overlies the angle portion 24 of thevertical angle iron 2, see Figure 10. Similarly, another side panel26has-a forward flanged portion 28 which is fixed to and underlies acorresponding side flange of the verticalfopposed front corner, bar 4. Asheet metal back 34 h-as right angle flanges 36 and38 which llt withinflange portions 40 and 42 of the side panels 20 and 26 andare fixed inthis position by bolts and nuts shown in the drawings. Thus it will beseen that no vertical corner angle ironsare used at the back thatcorrespond to the front corner angle frame Vmembers 2 and 4 at thefront.

The sheet metal cover generally indicated at 45 in Fig. 3 has a top 44,see Figures 2, 3 and 4, and is provided-with four depending borderflanges; shown in Figure 3 and which are also shown in theaforementioned Patent No. 2,568,592. These flanges are fastened in anysuitable manner, as Aby bolts and nuts. The flange 46 depending from thetop 44 at the front thereof is not bolted or fastened to the upper crossbar 8 of the door frame. However, as shown in Figure 4, its bottom edgerests upon an inwardly extending flange 9 of-y the top frame. and thisfront depending flange 46 lies within the rear wall of the upper crossbar 8. The other depending walls orflanges 48, 5| and 52 oi the top arefixed tothe side-and back panels by bolts, nuts or other fasteningmeans50. In the samemanner a sheet metal bottom 58, see Figures 2, 3 and 4,is provided with depending flanges 69 and 62, and two similar flanges onthe other side. The front depending flange 62 of this bottom 58 liesinwardly of the front face of the bottom cross angle 6 and its bottomedge lies upon an inwardly extending horizontal flange 1 of the bottomcross bar 6, as shown clearly in Figure 4. The other ilanges of thebottom are bolted as at 64 and 68 to the side and rear panels of thelocker. The locker preferably includes an intermediate shelf 10 havingdepending flanges 12, 14 and 16, see Figure 3, and a flange opposite theflange 14, not shown. The front depending flange 12 has an inwardly andupwardly bent tongue 80 providing a nished edge, see Figure 4, and thetwo side flanges 14, only one being shown, terminate as at 82, Figure 4,short of the rear depending flange 'i6 so as to clear the two flangewalls 36 and 38 of the rear panel 34. The shelf 10 is bolted as at 86and 88 to the two side panels 20 and 25. If desired, hooks 90, 92 and 94may be attached to the back walls at 96 and 98 or to the side panels orto the depending side flanges 14 and shelf 18. Thus there is provided arectangular structure formed of the panels and the front rigid andpreferably integrally formed frame member 2, 4, 6 and 8.

The front frame member also comprises the legs l and I2 hereinbeforementioned, While rear legs are provided by a pair of relatively shortcorner angle uprights |00 which are adequately bolted as at |0| to thecorners of the side and back panels 20, 26, and 34, as shown in Figure4.

Cooperating with the integral door frame member 2, 4, 6 and 8 of thelocker, and which member is shown in Figure 3, is a door member |02 ofsheet metal, also shown in Figure 3. This door member has an upper,inwardly extending horizontal flange |04, see Figure 2, and a bottom,inwardly extending horizontal flange |06, see Figure 2. In addition, atits right hand side the door is provided with an elongated rectangularopening |08, see Figure 3. It likewise has a front vertical inwardlyextending flange ||0 which in turn, as shown in Figures 2 and 10, isprovided with an inwardly extending short flange ||2 that parallels theplane of the door |02. This vertical flange ||2 is spaced from the planeof the door |02. The opposite vertical edge of the door is provided withan inwardly extending ilange H4, see Figure 10, which in turn has aright angled, relatively shorter flange ||6 that preferably liesparallel to and in the plane of the flange ||2. A pair of hinge leaves||8 are spot welded as at |20, Figure 10, to the upper vertical doorframe 4. In addition, another pair of leaves |22 is bolted as at |24 tothe vertical flange ||4. The end |26 of each of the leaves |22 is bentaround the flange |6 and terminates in a short ilange |28 that coversthe vertical end of the ilange IIB. These hinge members are formed asshown in Figure ll of the aforementioned Patent No. 2,568,592, and apivot pin |30 passes through the spaced loops of the hinges and afterthey are assembled the pin is held in position by means of indentsformed in portions of the barrels of the leaves l|8 whereby to hold thehinges assembled. This is a type of hidden hinge that covers the rawedge of the flange IIG and lies flush with the bulb |35 of the edge ofthe member 2 of the framework.

door |02 the end of the opening |08 of the door 4 is provided with anintegral, inwardly extending tab or ear |36, see Figs. '7 and 9. Theupper wall is likewise provided with an inwardly extending ear |38. Bothof these ears are perforated as at |40 to receive the shank of a rubberbumper |42 and |44, respectively, see Figures 7 and 9.

The upper portion of the vertical flange |2 of the door |82 is providedwith a slot |46, Figures 2 and 9, which extends in a vertical directionwith respect to the wall ||2 and terminates in a right angled,horizontal portion |48. This slot is therefore in a manner like aninverted L-shaped slot. As shown in Figure 2, the bottom portion bf theflange ||2 likewise has a vertical slot |46 and a horizontal connectingslot |48' and if desired there may be still a third similar slot |49intermediate the two other slots. These slots are adapted to receivekeepers |50, |52 and |54 formed on the stationary door frame when thedoor is moved toward closed position. One of these keepers is shown inFigure 8 and comprises a relatively heavy metal gauge strap comprisingthe relatively short portion |56 welded to the inner face of flange 2.The keeper also includes a right angled, bent portion |58, a second bentportion |60 Which lies at right angles to the portion |58, and thence afree tongue |62 bent at right angles to the portion |60. This freetongue is formed in turn with a latching tongue |64 that overlies thetop edge of the tongue |62 and is bevelled as at |66. It provides alocking face |68 opposite the bevelled face |66.

Cooperating with the door |02 and particularly with the door flanges ||0and |I2 thereof see Figure 10, and forming a substantially openfacedrectangular vertical guideway, is a vertically extending, verticallyshiftable, channelshaped member or bar |10 of sheet metal which isprovided with parallel, spaced apart sides |12 and |14, see Figure 9.This channel-shaped bar or member |10 moves vertically in the guidewayformed by the rear face of the front of the door |02, by the normallydisposed flange ||0 thereof and the back flange ||2 of the door, andthis vertically movable channel bar |10 carries affixed to it andmovable bodily with it a vertically disposed, rectangular, box-likehousing |11 of sheet metal comprising a vertical rear panel |18, a lowerhorizontal inwardly extending flange |80, a vertical side flange |82 ofthe housing |11, a vertical parallel wall |83, see Figure 10, on theopposite side, and a top flange |84. The vertical side flange |82 of thehousing |11 is provided with an outwardly extending vertical lip |86,see Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and the opposite wall |83 of this box-likehousing |11 is attached to channel bar |10 by means of screws, orpreferably steel pins |88 and |90 welded to the vertical wall |83 of thevertical housing. If screws are used for attaching the housing |11, thelatter is rigidly attached to the vertically movable channel member |10.On the other hand, if the pins |88 and |90 are welded to the verticalwall |83 of the housing, these pins then merely engage the verticalchannel member |10 through horizontally elongated slots |89, see Figure7. This pin and slot connection allows the pins to oat horizontally inthese slots but does not allow the pins t0 disengage from the verticalchannel member |10, due to the fact that the housing structure |11 isheld against the vertical channel member |10 by means cf the handlehereinafter described, see Figure 9. The handle |99 is attached to thehousing |11 by means of the three screws |91 threading into the screwholes 2|2, 2|4 and 2|8 so that the handle cannot move horizontally awayfrom the vertical movable member |19 but can travel only vertically withthechannelmemberv |19 as the latter rides in the guides ||9 and ||2` inthe faceof the door. Thispermits-the handle to operate freely andpermits ease of alignment and assembly. In addition, there is a bottompartition |92 which is weldedor otherwise suitably xed to the front wall|18. In addition, the wall |18 is depressed slightlyoutwardly to providea rectangular shaped recess or embossment |94 and the upper edge of thisrecess is slotted all the way through as at |96 to receive a numeralticket |98, see Figure 7, which slides down in position and carriessuitable indicia thereon, as shown in Figure 6, thereby giving thelocker a number.

As hereinafter referred to, a cast aluminum or other metal handle member|99, shown in Figure 9, is provided. This comprises a verticallyextending front plate- 2199 provided with an elon gated, central,preferably rectangular opening 294-and two side pillars 296 and 208. Atthe top and back, these side legs or pillars terminate in a horizontal,inwardly extending flange 2|9 which is perforated and threaded as at 2|2and 2|4. In addition, the legs are joined at the bottom by means of aange 2|6 having a centrally depending lug-provided with a horizontalperforation which is Vthreaded as at 2|8 to-receive one of the screws|91, Figure 8, that fasten the handle to the housing |11. The bottom offront plate 296 extends downwardly as at 229 below the lower horizontalextending flange'ZI. The posts 299 and 298 at the junction of the flange296 are slotted-asy at 232 and 224 so as to receive therein the crossflange |92' of the housingl |11 and the ends ofthe flange |92are-shouldered as at |93 so as to t into these slots 232 and 224,whereby the handle plate 299 ts within the side wall |82 and the opposedside wall |83 of the box-like structure, and whereby the handle plate isheld or secured to the housing |11 by the cross flange |92 fitting inthe slots 232 and 2-24 and three screws tapped into the handle flanges2|0 and 2|9 through the box-like structure, so that when the hand of theuser of the locker enters the opening of the handle and raises the same,the box-like housing or structure |11 and the, elongated channel-member|19 will be carried thereby and will be raised relatively to the guidewalls |92, I9 and ||2.

As shown in Figure 9, the rear wall of the channel bar 19 is providedwitha lower cut-out horizontal leg 226 and a conjoined vertical cutoutvertical leg 288 of a locking slot and, in addition, thereabove there isanother vertical slot 239 which merges into an enlarged horizontal legportion 232 thereof. suitably welded to the rear wall of the channel bar|19,as at 234, 236 and 238, is azplateflike member 249 which isvprovidedwith a slot 242 which includes a relatively narrow neck portion 244terminatingin a substantially circularV head. The slot 42 flares outwider'. at its bottom, as shown. A locking pin 248 lies in this slot andhas ahead 259 which lies in the aforesaid circular portion so. that thepin lies flush with theinner surface ofthe plate 240. A4 struck-up tab252 on plate 249 overlies the shank 248 of this'pin and holds it rmly inits seat in the slotted plate. The

bottom portion offthis plate is bent laterally out of the plane of theremainder ofl the plate,- such as at 254, Figure 6, so that it isclearfofthepin;

B The bottom ofv the .pin'is freeand lies inthe broad portion 232. ofvthe upper slot just described.

The lower end 22,1.of the pin 244 normally lies below` the horizontalportionof the central slot |49. intheflange. portion ||2.of the door.This corresponds to the downmost position of the channelf-shaped. guide|19 and its box-like structure and handle portion |99. In this position,whenv the door is closed, the tongue |64 on. the stationary framev willenter the horizontal leg of the central slot |49 anditsbeveled portion|66 of this tongue will contact the lower end. 221 of the vertical pinand will shift it to one side .in such a manner that the'pin will wipeover the bevelled portion |66 and will move behind the locking face|68of the tongue. whereby thevdoor will be lockedto the framework. Thisis thesnap lock feature of the door. To re lease the same itis necessarythen to push up on the handle portion, which means that the channelmember |1|Jvis likewise pushed upwardly, which then .carriesthe plate240 and the pin 248 mounted thereon .vertically upwardly so that thebottom portion of the pin will be raised above the top. edge or. face ofthe tongue |64 tofree the pin from. locking engagement with the face |68of the tongue. In this position the door is unlocked. andmay be swung toopen position.

Means .is provided for maintaining the channel member |10. intheguideway |92, ||9, ||2,.see Figure l0, which comprises an inwardlystruckout locking lug or tit 258 on the Wall ||2 ofthe guideway whichengages the lower or retaining slot. 226- 288y on the face |19 of theshiftable bar, see Figure 9. The L-shaped slot 226 and 288 cooperateswith this lug 258 in such a manner that when the vertical channel bar|19 is inserted into the guideway the horizontal portion 226 of. theslot will be slid in horizontally, into the guideway to register withthe locking lug 258 and then the bar |19 is dropped so that the lug 258engages only the vertical slot portion 288, whereby the same is then inlocked position. It will be noted that the horizontal portion 226. ofthe slot passes entirely through the metal of the face |19. and alsoforms a cutout portion in the side face |12, thereby permitting the tit258 on flange ||2 to pass into the. slot from the side.

Means is provided for permanently locking the door which comprises avertical slot 269 formed in wall |14, the lower inner face of this wall|14 below the slot 269 having welded thereto a strip of metal 262, theupper end of which is bent outwardly through the bottom of the slot asat 264 to provide an outwardly extending horizontal ledge or stop on theside wall |14 of the vertically shiftable channel member |19. This stopmember 264 cooperates with the tongue or latch 266 of a lock 268fastened as at 210 and 212 on the inner face of the door |92, see Figure9. A key operated member 2.14 will manually project the latch 266 of thelock outwardly to engage the slot 269 and the ledge 264, so that thechannel member |19 cannot be raised to release the latch |68 from thebottom 221 of the rod.

It will be noted that the rubber stops |42 and |44 are provided aboveand below the flanges 2|9 and 2|6 of the receptacle handle plate 299 soas to provide a sound-deadening and cushioning means for this handle. l

From the foregoing, it will be` apparent that, I have'provided animproved construction wherein, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, thehereinbefore described construction provides a flush type of handlewhich ismuch less hazardous in use than a' projecting type of handle. Itwill also' be noticed that this flush type of handle overlies oroverlaps the face of the door opening, thereby concealing the slot inthe door which is necessary -for the insertion of the handle. Inaddition, the handle cover plate 200 forms a recess at the side of thehandle to accommodateA the fingers for raising the handle to unlatch thedoor, and the inside of the handle is smooth. The entire handle,including the handle cover plate, is constructed and arranged to travelwhen operated so that there is no possibility of the operators injuringhis fingers in opening and closing the door, the fingers beingcompletely encased in a housing which is free of moving parts. Inaddition, the handle cover plate is embossed and slotted at the top andnot at the bottom so as to receive a number plate which is thereby heldin place in a manner which does not permit its easy removal.Furthermore, by reference to Figure 6, it will be noticed that the frontwall of the door, just below and above the opening, as shown in Figure 3and also in Figure 9 at 231, is provided with small embossments on itsouter face upon which slidingly rides the inner wall of the handlewhereby to eliminate friction and protect the nish. Furthermore, thehandle is symmetrically formed about a vertical center line and therebycan be used on either right-handed or left-handed swinging doors, and soalso the cover plate can be made and assembled for both right-handed andleft-handed doors. In addition, the bumper members |42 and |44 at thetop and bottom or the handle opening of the door provide silentoperation of the handle mechanism.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a cabinet door having asubstantially flush, manually actuable handle which projects through anopening in the door, the handle plate having upper and lower portionsoverlying the opening but lying substantially flush with the outersurface of the door and which handle is shiftable vertically, whenunlocked, to raise and lower the latching mechanism with respect to thestationary keeper formed on the door frame, the constructionV being suchthat the door will snap to with a snap lock and will require a manualactuation of the door handle to release the door for opening, and yetwill permit of the door being locked by a manually thrown bolt whichwill prevent the release of the snap locking mechanism. It will be seenthat the foregoing provides a very simple type of door construction andlocking mechanism therefor for accomplishing the foregoing objects andproviding a door of the foregoing advantages.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specic details ofconstruction disclosed herein but is capable of other modifications andchanges without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallicframework forming a door opening, a sheet metal door hinged in saidopening, keeper means carried by the door frame and projecting oppositesaid opening, said keeper means including a horizontal tongue having acamming surface and a rearwardly disposed adjacent locking surfacedisposed in the plane of said camming surface, said Sheet metal doorincluding a vertical guideway, said guideway including a slot thereinadapted to register with the tongue of said keeper means when the dooris in closed position and whereby said tongue of the keeper means isprojected through said slot, said latch device comprising a latchcarrying mechanism vertically shiftable in said guideway, said latchcarrying mechanism having a slot adapted to register with the slot inthe guideway of the door, whereby said keeper means is likewiseprojected through the slot of said shiftable latch carrying mechanism, ashiftable flexible latch carried by said latch carrying mechanism andpositioned normally to be engaged by the camming surface of said keepermeans upon the closure of the door whereby said latch is moved behindsaid locking surface of said keeper means to snap lock said door, andmeans extending across the slot of said shiftable latch carryingmechanism for limiting movement of said flexible latch transversely ofsaid door.

2. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallicframework forming a door opening, a sheet metal door hinged to saidopening, keeper means carried by the door frame and projecting oppositesaid opening, said keeper means including a tongue having a cammingsurface and an adjacent locking surface, said sheet metal door includinga vertical guideway, said guideway including a slot therein adapted toregister with the tongue of said keeper means when the door is in closedposition and whereby said tongue of the keeper means is projectedthrough said slot, said latch device comprising a latch carryingmechanism vertically shiftable in said guideway, said latch carryingmechanism having a slot adapted to register with the slot in theguideway of the door, and a relatively long rod flexibly carried on saidshiftable latch carrying mechanism and having its end registering withthe slot in said latch carrying mechanism and the slot in said doorguide, and in position to be moved by the camming surface of said keepermeans to a position behind said locking surface of the keeper means whenthe door moves to closed position, said latch carrying mechanismincluding means adjacent the free end of said rod limiting movement ofsaid rod transversely of said door.

3. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallicframework forming a door opening, a sheet metal door hinged to saidopening, keeper means carried by the door frame and projecting oppositesaid door opening, said keeper means including a tongue having a cammingsurface and an adjacent locking surface, said sheet metal door includinga vertical guideway, said guideway including a slot therein adapted toregister with the tongue of said keeper means when the door is in closedposition and whereby said tongue of the keeper means is projectedthrough said slot, said latch device comprising a latch carryingmechanism vertically shiftable in said guideway, said latch carryingmechanism having a slot adapted to register with the slot in theguideway of the door, a relatively long, flexible rod having one endanchored to said latch carrying mechanism, the opposite end of said rodiiexibly extending in position opposite the registering slots in saidlatch mechanism and said door guide and in position to be wiped by thecamming surface of said keeper means into position behind the lockingsurface of said keeper means to snap lock said door in position, andmeans extending across the slot in said latch mechanism for limitingmovement of the flexibly extending end of the rod transversely 0f saiddoor.

4. Alatch device for afdoor of a metalliclocker including a door 'formedof angle ironsforming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured tosaidangle iron and including a tongue projecting forwardly into theopening of said door, said tongue including a wiping surface andalockingsurface, a door hinged to said frame member and adapted to swing toclosed position, said door including a guideway having a slot therein,Said latch device comprising a channel-shaped member verticallyshiftablein said guideway and likewise having a slot adapted to registerwiththe slot in said guideway, a latch plate mounted on the `centralwall of said channel-shaped member, said latch plate having a slottherein, which slot is considerably wider at its bottom than at its top,a relatively long rod lying in said slot, means for xing the upperportion of said rod in said slot whereby the bottom portion of said rodis exible and lies opposite the slot in said channel-shaped guidewaywhereby when said door is moved to closed position the oamming surfaceof said keeper will wipe past the free exible end of said rod and movesaid rod behind the locking surface of said keeper to snaplock the doorin closed position.

5. A latch device for a'door of a metallic locker including 'a doorformed of angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keepersecured to one of said angle ironsand including a tongue projectingforwardly into the opening of said door, said tongue including a wipingsurface and a locking surface, a-docr hinged to one of said angle ironsand adapted to swing to closed position, said door including aguidevvayhaving a slot therein, said latch device comprising achannel-shaped member vertically shiftable in said guideway and likewisehaving a slot adapted to register with the slot in said guideway, alatch plate mounted on the central wall of said channel-shaped member,said latch plate having afslot therein, which slot is considerably widerat its bottom than at its top, a relatively long rod lying in said slot,means for fixing the upper portion of said rod in said slot whereby thebottom portion of said rod is flexible and lies opposite the slot insaidchannel-shaped guideway whereby when said door is moved to closedposition the camming surface of said keeper will wipe past the freeflexible end of saidrod and move said rod behind the locking surface ofsaid keeper to snap lock the door in'closedposition, said channel-shapedmember having a stop member.

'6. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a doorformed of angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keeper'secured to one of said angle irons and including a tongue projectingforwardly into the opening of said door, said tongue including a wipingsurface and a locking surface, a door hinged to one ofsaid angle ironsand adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a guideway,said latch device comprising a member vertically shiftable in saidguideway, a support mounted on said member, said support having a slottherein, which slot is considerably wider at its bottom than at its top,a relatively long rod lying in said slot, means for securing said rod atone end only to said support whereby the remainder of ysaid rod isflexible and has a portion lying opposite the `keeper when` said door ismoved -to vclosed position whereby the wiping surface of said keeperwilll wipe past the flexible portion of fsaid rodf-and movesaid 4rodbehind the lockingisurfac'e of said keeper to snap lock the door inclosed position, said member having a stop member.

7. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a doorformedof angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured toone of said angle irons and including a tongue projecting forwardly intothe opening of said door, saidtongue including a wiping surfaceand alocking surface, a door hinged to said frame member and adapted to swingto closed position, said door including a guideway, said latch devicecomprising a member vertically shiftable in said guideway, a supportmounted on said member, said supporthaving a slot therein, which slot isconsiderably wider at its bottom than at its top, a relatively longsubstantially straight rod lying in said slot, means for positioningsaid support on said member whereby a portion of said rod is flexibleand lies opposite the keeper when said door is moved to closed positionwhereby the wiping surface of said keeper will wipe past the flexibleportion of said rod and move said latch behind the locking surface ofsaid keeper to snap lock the door in closed position.

8. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a door frameforming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said frame andincluding a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said frame,said tongue including a wiping surface and an adjacent locking surface,a door hinged to `said frame and adapted to swing to closed position,said door including a vertical guideway, said latch device comprising anelongated latch carrying member vertically shiftable in said guideway,an elongated latch plate mounted on said latch `carrying member, saidlatch plate for the major portion of its vertical length lying flatagainst one of the Walls of said latch carrying member, the bottomportion of said latchplate being bent out of the plane of the remainingportion of said latch plate, an elongated vertical slot formed therein,an elongated rod lying in said `slot with the upper portion of said rodfixed in said slot to said latch plate, substantially the entire lengthof said rod below its point of fixation being free, and said rod in theclosing position of said door being operable to wipe across the wipingsurface of said keeper and yieldingly to snap behind the adjacentlocking surface of said keeper, vertical movement of said latch carryingmember being operable to carry the lower end of said rod above thelocking s-urface of said keeper to release their interengagement.

9. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including adoor frameforming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said frame andincluding a sheet metal tongue lying in a vertical plane and having atransversely extending horizontal portion provided with an obliquewiping edge and a locking shoulder disposed in the plane of saidlaterally extending portion, a door hinged to said door frame andadapted to swing to closed position, said door including a verticalguideway provided with an opening, said latch device comprising a latchcarrying member vertically shiftable in said guideway and having anopening registrable with the opening in said guideway, a latch plateaffixed to an inner flat wall of said latch carrying member, said latchplate having a vertically extending slot formed centrallythereof, thelower portion of said latch plate being bent out of the plane of therev`mainder of said plate, `and an elongated rodof relatively' smalldiameter having its upper end fixed in said slot at the upper portion ofsaid plate and depending downwardly, the portion of said rod below itspoint of fixation being free of said plate whereby said rod may yieldwith respect to the plate on which it is mounted, the bottom of saidrod. extending opposite the slot in said latch carrying plate, and saidslot in said latch carrying plate and the slot in said door guidewaynormally registering with the position of said keeper whereby on closureof said door the lower free end of said rod will wipe along the wipingedge of said tongue and snap behind said locking shoulder of saidtongue, and means for raising said latch carrying member t move thelower free end of said rod above said locking shoulder to release thesame from interengagement.

10. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising alongitudinally shiftable latch carrying member, a latch plate mounted onsaid latch carrying member and having a longitudinal slot therein, saidslot being wider at one end than at the other, a relatively longflexible member disposed in the slot of said latch plate, and means forfixing one end only of said flexible member to said latch plate at thenarrower end of said slot, the remainder of said flexible member beingfree and lying substantially in the plane of said slot and being adaptedto be cammed to one side by a camming surface on a keeper and thereafterto snap behind a locking surface on a keeper.

11. A latch device to be used with a locker o1' the like having ahorizontally disposed keeper having a latching surface and a cammingsurface disposed at an oblique angle to said latching surface, saidlatch device comprising a, vertically shiftable latch carrying member, alatch plate mounted on said latch carrying member and having a verticalslot which is wider at the lower end than at the upper, an elongatedflexible member disposed in the slot of said latch plate, and means forfixing one end only of said flexible member to said latch plate at theupper end of said slot, the remainder of said flexible member being freeand lying substantially in the plane of said slot, whereby said flexiblemember may be cammed to one side by the camming surface of said keeperand thereafter snap behind the locking surface of said keeper.

12. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising alongitudinally shiftable latch carrying member, an elongated flexiblelatch member secured to said latch carrying member at one end only, theother end of said flexible member being free for substantial deflectionin a predetermined plane when engaged by the camming surface of a keeperand adapted thereafter to snap behind a locking surface on a keeper, andmeans adjacent the free end of said latch member substantiallypreventing movement of said flexible latch member in a planeperpendicular to said predetermined plane.

13. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising avertically shiftable latch carrying member, a latch plate secured tosaid latch carrying member and having a vertical slot therein, thegreater portion of said latch plate lying in a plane and the lowerportion of said latch plate including .a part of said slot beingdisplaced therefrom away from said latch carrying member andsubstantially -parallel to said latch carrying member, a relatively longflexible member disposed in the slot of said latch plate, and means forfixing one end only of said flexible member to said latch platesubstantially at the upper end of said slot, the lower end of saidflexible member being free for and guided in substantially planemovement by the lower end of said latch plate and said latch carryingmember whereby said flexible member can be cammed to one side by acamming surface of a keeper and will thereafter snap behind a lockingsurface on a keeper.

14. A latch device to be used with a locker or the like having ahorizontal keeper having a locking surface and a camming surfacedisposed at an oblique angle to said locking surface, said latch devicecomprising a vertically shiftable latch carrying member, a latch platemounted on said latch carrying member and having a vertical slottherein, an elongated flexible rod disposed in the slot of said latchplate, means for securing one end only of said rod substantially at theupper end of said slot, the greater portion of said latch plate lying ina plane and the lower end including a portion of said slot beingdisplaced from said plane away from said latch carrying member, thelower end of said rod being free for lateral deflection between saidlatch carrying member and the displaced portion of said latch plate whenengaged by the camming surface of said keeper to snap behind the lockingsurface of said keeper.

15. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising alongitudinally shiftable latch carrying member having a substantiallyplane surface, a latch plate mounted on said latch carrying member, thegreater part of said latch plate lying in a plane flat against the planesurface of said latch carrying member and one end of said latch platebeing displaced outwardly from said latch carrying member, said latchplate having an elongated slot relatively wide in the outwardlydisplaced end of said plate and tapering to a narrow substantiallyelongated neck portion having substantially parallel sides and ending inan enlarged portion, a struck out portion of said latch plate overlyingsaid neck portion, and an elongated flexible rod disposed within saidslot, the rod adjacent one end thereof fitting within the neck portionand clamped between the struck out portion of the plate and the latchcarrying member, the end of said rod being enlarged within the enlargedportion of said slot adjacent said neck portion to preclude longitudinalmovement of said rod, and the other end of said rod being free for planemovement between the latch carrying member and the displaced end of saidlatch plate whereby said rod can be deflected to one side by a cammingsurface of a keeper and thereafter snap behind a locking surface of akeeper.

16. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker, having a metallicframe member forming a door opening, a sheet metal member hinged to saidfirst member to close said door opening, one of said members including akeeper provided with an outstanding vertically disposed tongue formedwith a horizontal camming member and an adjacently disposed lockingsurface disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the ttongue, the other of said members being provided with a guideway, a slotin said guideway i-,gi'ster with a portionl of the 'slottedportion ofthe guideway, sad'slidable latch ca rryingmember keeper and to snapbehind the locking surface of the tongue of said keeper, whereby to snaplock said door in closed position, means'on said latch carrying memberadjacent the freetend of said rod, limiting movement of said rodtransversely of said door and means carried by one of said members forshifting the latch carrying member to a position to carry saidflexible-rod out of contact with said locking surface ofs'aid keeper torelease said door. y

17. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallicframe member forming a door frame and a door opening, a sheet metalmember hinged to said frame member to close said opening, one of saidmembers including a keeper provided with an outstanding tongue formedwith a camming surface and an adjacently disposed locking surface, theother of said members being provided with a guideway, a slot in saidguideway to receive the projecting tongue of the keeper, said latchdevice comprising a slidable latch carrying member slidably mounted in isaid guideway and having a slotted portion adapted to register with aportion of the slotted portion of the guideway, said shiftable latchcarrying member carrying a flexible single vertically disposed elongatedrod, said rod being attached at its upper end to said member and beingfree otherwise and disposed normally to the rear of and across a portionof the slot in said latch carrying member, and constructed and arrangedupon the projection of the tongue of the keeper into said slot of saidlatch carrying member to be shifted laterally by the camming surface ofthe tongue of the keeperV into said slot of said door member and to snapbehind a locking surface of the tongue of said keeper whereby to snaplock said door in closed position, means carried by one of said membersadjacent the free end of said rod for limiting movement of said rodtransversely of the member on which it is carried, and means carried byone of said members for shifting the latch carrying member to` aposition to carry said rod above and out of contact with said lockingsurface of said keeper to release said door.

18. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a doorformed of angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keepersecured to one of said angle irons and including a tongue projectingforwardly into the opening of said door, said tongue including a wipingsurface and an adjacent locking surface, a door hinged to one of saidangle irons and adapted to swing to closed position, said door includinga marginal guideway having a slot therein, said latch device comprisingan elongated latch carrying member vertically shiftable in said guidewayand likewise having a slot adapted to register with the slot in saidguideway, a latch plate mounted on said latch carrying member, saidlatch plate having a vertically disposed slot therein, which slot isconsiderably wider at its bottom than at its top, a relatively long roddisposedgin the slot of said latch plate, means for fixing `the upperportion only of said rod to said latch plate, the remainder of said rodbeing free and lying in the plane of the slot, the bottom portion ofsaid rod being flexible and lying opposite the slot in saidchannel-shaped guideway whereby when said door is 'moved to closedposition the camming surface of said keeper will wipepast the freeflexible `end of said rod and move said rod behind the locking surfaceof said keeper to snap lock the door in closed position.

19. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a doorframe forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said doorframe and including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening ofsaid frame, said tongue including a vertically disposed wiping surfaceand an adjacent locking surface, a door hinged to said door frame andadapted to swing to closed position, said door including a guideway,said latch device comprising alatch carrying member verticallyshiftablein said guideway, a vertically disposed elongated substantiallystraight latch having a free end, means for mounting said latch on saidlatch carrying member whereby the bottom portion of said latch isflexible and lies generally opposite the vertically disposed wipingsurface and locking surface of said keeper when said door is moved toclosed position whereby the wiping surface of said keeper will wipe pastthe free flexible end of said elongated latch and move said latch behindthe locking surface of said keeper to snap lock the door in closedposition, and means on said latch carrying member near the free end ofsaid latch limiting movement of the free flexible end of said elongatedlatch transversely of said door.

20. A latching device for a door of a metallic locker, including a doorframe forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said doorframe and including a vertically disposed sheet metal tongue projectingforwardly into the opening of said frame, said tongue including a bendsubstantially at right angles to the tongue to provide a horizontalwiping member and an adjacent locking surface disposed in the plane ofthe wiping member, a door hinged to said door frame and adapted to swingto closed position, said door, including a guideway, said latch devicecomprising a latch carrying member vertically shiftable in saidguideway, an elongated latch having a free end, means for verticallymounting said latch on said latch carrying member whereby the bottomportion of said latch is flexible and lies generally opposite andtransversely to the wiping member and locking surface of said keeper,when said door is moved to closed position whereby the wiping surface ofsaid keeper will wipe past the free flexible end of said elongated latchand move said latch behind the locking surface of said keeper to snaplock the door in closed position and means on said latch carrying membernear the free end of said latch for limiting movement of the freeflexible end of said elongated latch transversely of the door.

JOHN B. OCONNOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,194,801 Lindstrom Mar. 26, 19402,195,223 OConnor 1 Mar. 26, 1940 2,242,958 OConnor May 20, 19412,370,841 Chervenka Mar. 6, 1945

